Hezbollah will continue fighting alongside forces loyal to President Bashar Assad against Syrian rebels, the head of the resistance group said Friday, adding that his party’s decision to intervene in Lebanon’s neighbor had been a calculated one.

Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said in a televised speech that recent steps taken by GCC targeting Hezbollah loyalists in the Gulf would not deter his group from its objectives in Syria.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri responded shortly after the speech, issuing a statement in which he denied Nasrallah’s claims that his Future Movement was sending fighters to Syria.

“Wherever we need to be, we will be. What we started taking responsibility for, we will continue to be responsible for; there’s no need to provide details,” he said, addressing a ceremony to honor wounded Hezbollah members.

Nasrallah said taking part in the Syrian conflict had been a “calculated” but “modest” move. “We took a decision, although late, to intervene on the ground,” he added. “This was not spur of the moment.”

The GCC said Monday it would take measures against Hezbollah loyalists in Gulf countries as well as against their finances, while Nasrallah denied party members were operating in Gulf countries and said the decision would not deter the group.

“We aren’t surprised by the threats this past week, including the threats from Gulf states to impose sanctions against Hezbollah members. There are no Hezbollah members in the Gulf anyway,” he said, adding his party had no “plots to target the Gulf.”